tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71989627368869516532016-09-07T21:22:32.461-07:00The Year 2050Merging the technology present day, the style of the 1950's and the future of space exploration.Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-26001975601312214782015-02-27T06:26:00.000-08:002015-02-27T06:26:41.344-08:00Delaying my wardrobe...I was going to try to get this month's wardrobe challenge completed by the end of February, but I don't think that it will get done. <br /><br />Evaluating and shrinking my wardrobe has been a goal for a while now, and something I just can't quite achieve. &nbsp;It may be how dauntingly large it is - &nbsp;a full dresser, three Rubbermaid bins worth of costumes/specialty clothing, a medium closet-rack worth of dresses, and overflow from all of that. &nbsp;It may be how connected I feel to my clothes - these special pieces, a lot of them thrift store finds, vintage or handmade. &nbsp;It may just be that I have a lot of costumes and not as many "real clothes", but I don't think that's true.<br /><br />I did do some sorting last night, of the bins I have - which are a combination of costumes, skirts and dresses. &nbsp;I pulled a bag full out of things that don't fit or that I've rarely or never worn. &nbsp;It feels like a relief, but there is still quite a ways to go. &nbsp;I loved those things, but they weren't me. &nbsp;It's helping to think "if I don't love it, let it go." &nbsp;That, and owning a mirror again.<br /><br />Still to go is to dig through the costume bins completely, then tackle the dresser (which I have few qualms about, because I think I may start wearing my professional shirts again. &nbsp;Maybe take some old shirts and turn them into pillows? Double check my pants collection, but I think I already took out the ones that no longer fit me.) and put away all the t-shirts still in the "washed" hamper. &nbsp;It's not too many steps, it's just the time and space it takes to go through things that seem to be at a premium these days.<br /><br />It's going to take some time to coalesce, but I know I would prefer to have a style that I can feel comfortable wearing to work and while at home. &nbsp;I like the feeling of dressing up to go out, but I don't love the feeling of needing to peel off a costume when I get in my house.<br /><br />I'm just going to keep pushing myself. &nbsp;Finish this sort, then maybe do another one in a month. &nbsp;Maybe have a friend over to help tell me that things look great/terrible on me. &nbsp;I will have a wardrobe I'm proud of soon enough!<br /><br />(After doing some sorting, I came across a <a href="http://theyeartwentyfifty.blogspot.com/2009/08/butterick-5032.html">Butterick 5032</a>&nbsp;I made a while ago. &nbsp;I actually quite like it! &nbsp;It fits nicely and I forgot how cute and flattering it is! &nbsp;So it's going back into rotation, and I'm wearing it today.)Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-87641185263410128182015-02-02T06:10:00.000-08:002015-02-02T06:10:11.616-08:00January's Wardrobe Challenge post<div style="text-align: justify;">The exercises for January (weeks 1-4 of the original Wardrobe Architect) have helped me start to coalesce what I want my style to be at its core.</div><div>When I was a teenager, I was not at all conscious of the body I was in. &nbsp;It took until sometime later in college, maybe even after that, to understand what fit my body and that showing it off was ok, and even fun sometimes. &nbsp;I took a lot of cues (and even got a lot of clothes) from my mother, whose primary concern was being able to move and get dirty if need be - she's a gardener first and foremost in my mind.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even when I didn't know how things looked on my body or what the correct proportions to anything were, I always loved to experiment with clothes. &nbsp;I love putting on a costume or seeing what I look like as a fairy, a goth, a raver, a 1930s screen siren. &nbsp;I'm addicted to the drama in clothes - you walk into a room and everyone takes a look at you, if even for a moment. &nbsp;(Often I'm of the opinion that all attention is good attention.) &nbsp;I want to maintain the ability to costume and take a chance with fashion sometimes, but to pay attention to proportion and fit when it enters my wardrobe for good.</div><div><br /></div><div>My history has kept me covered up, and I still hang a great importance on being able to keep a conservative wardrobe. &nbsp;My body will often make clothes skew trashy if they're cut in the wrong way. &nbsp;I do want to start taking the proportions and cuts to a flattering place, but it's important to me that it doesn't cross that line on a daily basis. &nbsp;(I have a lot of skirts and dresses that are too long and need to be shortened - and on a smaller person such as myself, the increments there can sometimes feel dicey.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I look forward to keeping plenty of color and joy in my wardrobe. &nbsp;I love being the girl in the bright green coat every winter - it keeps me noticeable and makes me feel like I bring a smile to some people as everyone else goes by in black, black, black. &nbsp;I think that my community has helped me maintain and blossom in this wardrobe joy - they encourage me to be silly and cute and fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also have to keep my daily wardrobe active-ready. &nbsp;I walk over a mile each day, to and from work, and I'm considering biking as a commute, at least some days, during the spring and summer. &nbsp;So, a four-season wardrobe is critical to me, as I don't have the luxury of a car 7 days a week.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In defining my core style, the words I chose were: <b>bright</b>, <b>cute</b>, <b>distinguished</b>, <b>active/comfort</b>, and <b>drama/shock</b>. &nbsp;Those last two are couples because I feel like they're two sides of the same coin I can't find a word in the middle for.</div><div><br /></div><div>In my shapes, I look for somewhat fitted silhouettes overall. &nbsp;I prefer a natural or high waistline (though being petite, my waistline is naturally somewhat high) and a very long or above-the-knee length. &nbsp;As I now own a mirror again, I know that skirts that hit me at or below the knee are not flattering to my height, and long tops may as well just be minidresses.</div><div><br /></div><div>I haven't selected any patterns yet for this challenge. &nbsp;I bought the lovely <a href="http://butterick.mccall.com/b6130-products-49137.php?page_id=147">Butterick 6130</a>&nbsp;this past week, which I hope works with my proportions. &nbsp;I think maybe a jersey version of <a href="http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8728-products-14167.php?page_id=850">Vogue 8728</a>&nbsp;a la Jennifer Lauren Vintage. &nbsp;I'm going to go through my giant pattern library soon and find more patterns to add to this. &nbsp;Maybe also the <a href="http://selvagedesigns.com/product/syrah/">Syrah Maxi Skirt</a>. &nbsp; Expect wacky fabrics (I bought a shrimp African wax print recently) and bright colors. &nbsp;I can't help it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also recently got an amazing pair of Old Navy high-waisted jeans in a clothing swap. &nbsp;If I get the gumption, I'm going to try pants - wide leg, high waisted pants. &nbsp;They're so amazing!</div>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-17199343890495788542015-01-09T13:39:00.001-08:002015-01-09T13:39:02.903-08:00Back to the Future (of the Past)<div style="text-align: justify;">I know I've neglected this blog for a while. &nbsp;Life has gotten hectic, and I've been re-discovering myself. &nbsp;This year, I'm going to take the Colette Wardrobe Architect challenge. &nbsp;I think it'll help me be more myself in a lot of ways.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/wardrobe-architect-2015"><img alt="" src="//media.coletterie.com/promo/architect-2015-300.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have too many clothes, I'll be the first one to admit. &nbsp;And I didn't own a mirror in my bedroom for... quite a few years. &nbsp;Especially not since I've realized that fit is a combination of feel and look. &nbsp;I also feel far more confident in my sewing skills. (Not necessarily in my fitting skills, but hopefully this challenge will help me with that!) &nbsp;I've just got a mish-mashed collection of things that are ~interesting~ or easy to put on. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, looking nice is just as easy, most of the time. &nbsp;I do love to remind people that a dress is ONE article of clothing, and pants and a shirt are TWO. &nbsp;(The laziness is strong with me.) &nbsp;So, I'm determined to take back my ill-fitting, weird wardrobe and turn it into the slightly retro, still wacky, properly fitting one!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">See you towards the end of January!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">P.S. - Oh, and I got a serger. &nbsp;Lazy, well-fitting and well-finished clothes in all fabrics are in my grasp now!!</div>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-23273168320116551272014-07-12T11:00:00.000-07:002014-07-17T11:52:12.528-07:00Getting back in the sew-ing of things (hey-o!)I'll be honest with you, readers. &nbsp;I haven't been sewing much in the last year or two. I've sewn some cute, silly costumes, but they're usually a last-minute struggle against my sewing machine, not a fun and relaxing project that helps me revel in creating. &nbsp;Depression has been a struggle, and I feel better than I've felt in a while. &nbsp;Creativity is flowing back into me, I'm not just wrenching it out of myself anymore. &nbsp;It's a good feeling.<br /><br />A few weekends ago, while my boyfriend was out of town, I spent time sewing a muslin of the Colette Cooper backpack. &nbsp;I'm going to make one for him in the next month or so, but I wanted to give it a run through to see where I could make it special for him and how it all comes together.<br /><br />And it came together beautifully, if I do say so myself.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xnVCrHS51y0/U7_uVLs_lUI/AAAAAAAAJL8/87a9m-VvqHM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xnVCrHS51y0/U7_uVLs_lUI/AAAAAAAAJL8/87a9m-VvqHM/s1600/photo.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top view - check out that sweet flap action!</span></div><br />This is the first indie pattern I've ever really used. &nbsp;I have a sale-related addiction to the Big 4 (or 5? &nbsp;I really like Burda, but it's really just 2 companies in the end, McCall and Simplicity.) which I am now seeing the light of the wonder of getting so much more <i>and </i>helping someone grow their business.<br /><br />The instructions were so easy, it felt comfortable and helped me ease myself back into pattern sewing. &nbsp;(I bought the Crepe pattern at the same time, so I look forward to being guided through a pretty little wrap dress as well.)<br /><br />I also got suuuuuper friendly with my new pal, the edge stitching foot. &nbsp;I know I need to work on the straightness of my edge stitching/top stitching, but I knew this was a muslin just for me so I didn't mind at all that things were a little wobbly/speedily done. &nbsp;I'm the only one who's going to be paying any kind of attention to it. &nbsp;I know I'm going to be more smooth, slow and attentive on my next sewing mission through this.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FxOcEzDuN5w/U7_7jXhytFI/AAAAAAAAJMw/Njt9JiGl_6U/s1600/IMG_1382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FxOcEzDuN5w/U7_7jXhytFI/AAAAAAAAJMw/Njt9JiGl_6U/s1600/IMG_1382.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flap open - it's got a few nice little pockets hidden under there. &nbsp;I placed a bright red bird for interest.</span></div><br />My one main goof on this was buying 1-1/2" wide nylon webbing for the straps. &nbsp;It was a last-minute run on a Sunday (when all the fabric shops in Philadelphia are closed, save one which is only going to be open a couple more Sundays..) and I forgot how smart the indication of "cotton webbing" was. (And a smaller width, too - the 1 1/2" is pretty unwieldy on a tiny person such as myself!) The straps are really uncomfortable now. &nbsp;Hopefully they wear out a little bit and get more comfortable, but I'll probably just end up making little matching pads to put on them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Gvi2GmPfmU/U7_wfT4DF1I/AAAAAAAAJMk/uaPx-DjhyK4/s1600/IMG_1384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Gvi2GmPfmU/U7_wfT4DF1I/AAAAAAAAJMk/uaPx-DjhyK4/s1600/IMG_1384.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The handle and two straps in in the back, and a duck with weird feet</span></div><br />I was going to go and purchase actual muslin to do this in, but remembered how badly I need to cut back on my fabric stash, so I went shopping back in there and found this bolt of cute IKEA fabric, called Barnslig. &nbsp;I know I must've bought in on clearance/as-is or something, but they sell decently sized mini-bolts (I think they're about 5 yards, by my calculation. I may have picked up another one last weekend while out shopping for nothing... I think it's going to be a cute dress.) &nbsp;in these interesting prints. &nbsp;I'm pretty sure they're supposed to be curtains or upholstery, but I'm one of those people who hasn't learned better than shopping in the quilting cottons for apparel, so.. there's that. &nbsp;I really love this print, so instead of using the contrast for the flap like the pattern indicates, I used the main fabric for it as well. &nbsp;(That, and I scrambled through my stash for just-about-enough contrast to do the bottom pieces... whoops!)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0TAy6mBOqc/U7_t9QRNfTI/AAAAAAAAJL0/haKfJ19s590/s1600/IMG_1380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0TAy6mBOqc/U7_t9QRNfTI/AAAAAAAAJL0/haKfJ19s590/s1600/IMG_1380.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLheast8oro/U7_t6d3eP1I/AAAAAAAAJLg/_Ld91xmEWUE/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLheast8oro/U7_t6d3eP1I/AAAAAAAAJLg/_Ld91xmEWUE/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Check out this cute bear hiding in the bottom pocket!</span></div><br />The bottom/contrast is black taffeta that I previously used for my spaceship dress, and the lining is a red that I found. &nbsp;It's a little suede-y for whatever weird reason. &nbsp;It was in a remnants bin at a local fabric shop and had an interesting print, so I picked it up a while ago - for almost this express purpose - and forgot it existed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SgWNWewdpc/U7_t52xcI4I/AAAAAAAAJLc/QmjwbPEDyX8/s1600/IMG_1383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SgWNWewdpc/U7_t52xcI4I/AAAAAAAAJLc/QmjwbPEDyX8/s1600/IMG_1383.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Full of all the stuff you really need - knitting needles, iPhone cables, mascara...</span></div><br />The main fabric isn't structured at all, and I think this pattern needs a little something more than a lightweight cotton to dig into. &nbsp;This Cooper is floppy all over, which isn't the best. &nbsp;I also didn't feel like putting in the magnetic snaps, because I am lazy and it seemed a little silly at the time. <b>(NOTE - THIS WAS A HUGE MISTAKE. &nbsp;I am now holding &nbsp;it together with safety pins when I over-stuff it, which may or may not be frequently when I use it. &nbsp;This is not attractive or super-great for the fabric.)</b> The flap does still keep the top of the backpack covered most of the time, but it's not secure at all. &nbsp;The taffeta gives it a nice sturdy bottom, though I'm sure it'll end up getting all kinds of nicked-up and dirty soon enough.<br /><br />I'm really proud of this, and it's exciting to start making beautiful and quality pieces again. &nbsp;It's building up my confidence to try new things soon - like sewing knits, and working with quality fabrics instead of weird novelty prints. &nbsp;(I do have like 5 yards of this AMAZING black fabric with cougar heads all over it, though... that's going to make something absurd.) &nbsp;My fingers are itching to make more things and do it all well, because that little extra time I took to finish this (and the little bit more time than that I know I need to work on taking in the future) really made the difference.<br /><br /><br />Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-35817215095601446982014-07-10T08:40:00.000-07:002014-07-10T08:40:47.494-07:00Me-Made-...July?So I know I haven't posted here in a while. &nbsp;It's been a combination of a handful of things - moving, adjusting to the busy life of a 40-hour work week in a city full of people, and handling my two best friends in the world - laziness and depression. &nbsp;But I'm carving out time for myself and for getting crafty, so look out! &nbsp;I'm (hopefully) going to be back in full force soon-ish.<br /><br />(I add the -ish because we only air condition our living room and there's no room to cut fabric in there. &nbsp;So, I'm praying for cooler nights just like everyone else.)<br /><br />In the course of my last few moves, I forgot to get all the cute retro dresses I had made into my closet and therefore haven't been wearing them for at least a year or two. &nbsp;Maybe more like three or four. &nbsp;(Whoops.) &nbsp;But I just picked them all up maybe a month ago and have been wearing them non-stop. &nbsp;I forgot just how fun it is to wear clothing that you've made and how much I love vintage styling. &nbsp;I am far too lazy to take the time out to do my hair every day (not that it likes to hold style anyway), but just having a nipped-in waist and a sense of frilly quilting-cotton girlyness gives a little extra bounce to my step.<br /><br />That - and having hair that looks like something between a traffic cone, a day lily and a blood orange - are what really bring a little joy to my day. &nbsp;Yes, as a young professional I have decided to join the ranks of the creatively styled in Philadelphia and have turned my hair bright orange. &nbsp;Not just some of it, all of it. &nbsp;It makes every day a little more fun, and makes all the orange things I own pop just a little more - and I own a lot of orange. &nbsp;I went through a few different brands, but my current color is a blend of Special Effects Hi-Octane Orange (which should glow under blacklight, but my hair currently doesn't) and Color Ion Orange. &nbsp;The Special Effects is quite red for my tastes, but it should hold in my hair a lot longer than the plain Ion. &nbsp;I bought the last two bottles out of the one store in Philly that had it (which I went in on a whim, like a champ - best recent random shopping experience) &nbsp;but they're finally starting to restock colors, so hopefully oranges will be soon!<br /><br />I've also been spending a lot of the summer alone. &nbsp;My boyfriend has been out at festivals and other events a lot of weekends and I just don't have the time off to be there most of the time. (I did go out to PEX Summer Festival last weekend, which was a great experience.) &nbsp;It's been nice being more independent, though I also haven't bought real groceries in like a month. &nbsp;I forgot how wonderful it can be to be by yourself, or to connect with friends on your own. &nbsp;My boyfriend is a stunning conversationalist, so people often either make grossly inaccurate assumptions about me (based on him) or don't feel like they get to know me at all.<br /><br />In other words, the creative juices have started to flow again (I actually have a post backlogged here because I haven't gotten any good shots of it yet - maybe I'll get those tonight!) and I've made time in my life for them to get all out and wiggly. &nbsp;Here comes a flow of awesome stuff to wear and cuddle and dance and play in! &nbsp;Here's to the second half of 2014! &nbsp;Here's to that Cookie Puss cake at the end of the month!<br /><br /><3 p=""></3>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-56256531813092286832014-03-19T12:56:00.000-07:002014-03-19T12:56:42.616-07:00Color shiftingSo, it appears that the colors of my world are shifting, weirdly, to pink. &nbsp;Every new and fabulous thing that I am welcoming into my life - my awesome new winter boots, a lovely winter muff I was gifted, the warmest 85-cent Goodwill sweater that I haven't been able to stop wearing - are all shades of pink. &nbsp;(I often try to refute this in my head - telling myself things are coral or magenta or something... but they're totally pink.) &nbsp;It's not a color that I have had a real affinity for (even though I somehow chose my childhood bedroom to be a Pepto-Bismal pink - still don't know what I was thinking when that happened) but it hasn't ever really been so prevalent in my life until this winter season. &nbsp;Who knows if it will continue into the spring - I kind of doubt it now that I'm aware of it, and I'm pretty sure that spring and summer lead to a far bigger selection of my clothing than the winter does.<br /><br />What's been going on in my life aside from everything turning out rosy? &nbsp;Well, Philadelphia has been treating me better, or I've just become accustomed to its bizarre ways. &nbsp;My boyfriend and I are enjoying the life of young adults in the burner scene here - dressing up in crazy outfits, going to wacky parties, making the most exciting and interesting friends possible. &nbsp;I haven't really documented it at all, but I've been making some interesting costumes in the last year. &nbsp;Things like: &nbsp;blue lobsters, silly onesies, toast with butter berets, coats, capes, all kinds of wacky things. &nbsp;It's often a sewing challenge, but I love stepping up to the plate to make something different from what a pattern calls for and with strange embellishments or fabrics. &nbsp;This year should lead to more of the same, I think, and hopefully I'll be able to make more wearable every day pieces too.<br /><br />I will try my hardest to put up some of the things I make here, and I am working towards having a space and a mentality about sewing and creating that will make me the clothes I want to be wearing - appropriate, slightly vintage, fancy clothes that make me feel powerful and fantastic about how I look on a daily basis. &nbsp;And, if not that, than completely absurd and covered in a bright and silly rainbow-barf of colors.Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-30299233107439994522013-04-24T09:47:00.001-07:002013-05-22T07:22:23.897-07:00A bag with a heartSo, today's post is about the bag I just finished yesterday. &nbsp;The body of the bag has been finished for a bit, but I just had to attach the strap to make sure it was ready to go out into the world.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LpMxA6e7Unw/UXgE_uayp9I/AAAAAAAAIZ0/Y8Wl2kTY9Og/s1600/mel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LpMxA6e7Unw/UXgE_uayp9I/AAAAAAAAIZ0/Y8Wl2kTY9Og/s320/mel1.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div>It's a bag with a heart! &nbsp;One of my friends commissioned this bag from me, for her when she's out at burns and needs to carry her things with her and wants to do it oh-so-fashionably. &nbsp;I think that she might end up using it in regular life, too, as I just see it as <i>such </i>a nice and functional bag.</div><div><br /></div><div>You might notice that the heart seam at the top of the bag looks a little different left-to-right. &nbsp;That's because the right hand side is hiding a secret zipper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMRh-H8iw8Y/UXgFCqvcOnI/AAAAAAAAIaM/vGDfCDY-L1M/s1600/100_9103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMRh-H8iw8Y/UXgFCqvcOnI/AAAAAAAAIaM/vGDfCDY-L1M/s200/100_9103.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf4Dpwh-9Xs/UXgFB2Bg32I/AAAAAAAAIaE/XRcQ-7inoXY/s1600/100_9102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf4Dpwh-9Xs/UXgFB2Bg32I/AAAAAAAAIaE/XRcQ-7inoXY/s200/100_9102.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div>This is a pocket to hold sunglasses and other semi-large things that need to be easy-to-reach but kept inside a pocket. &nbsp;This is the first curved zipper I've ever inserted. I was incredibly nervous and even thought about not putting this zipper in as it was. &nbsp;But this was where it was requested and the only place I could really innocuously put a zipper on the front flap. &nbsp;Through a little extra effort and a lot of planning, it turned out perfectly. &nbsp;I love learning new techniques whenever I do a new project and I feel so much more confident having accomplished a curved zipper.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsvvCEvrRu4/UXgFIJ25M3I/AAAAAAAAIac/m9FxZBK_kyc/s1600/100_9105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsvvCEvrRu4/UXgFIJ25M3I/AAAAAAAAIac/m9FxZBK_kyc/s320/100_9105.JPG" width="241" /></a></div><div>I added a series of zippers on the inside of the flap, including a water-resistant zipper (the heavy black one at the bottom). &nbsp;The coils of the water-resistant zipper are backwards, almost like an invisible zipper, but with a large tab like there are on regular coil zips. &nbsp;I also made a covered mirror which matches the bag and has its own special zippered pocket to live in. &nbsp;These pockets are for all those little essentials - lip gloss, eye drops, car keys, cell phone, and what-have-you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dK52J69PJvY/UXgFSYgnVlI/AAAAAAAAIa0/ypE1CP6TwQU/s1600/100_9108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dK52J69PJvY/UXgFSYgnVlI/AAAAAAAAIa0/ypE1CP6TwQU/s320/100_9108.JPG" width="241" /></a></div><div>On the front of the bag - a pocket for cigarettes. &nbsp;(I personally don't smoke, but my friend does, and I managed to&nbsp;scavenge&nbsp;an empty pack of Newport Reds from some smoker friend of mine. &nbsp;This will now forever be my test-pack to make sure cigarette pockets are just the right size because I just think Newport Reds are some of the silliest cigarettes.) &nbsp;It actually fits a lighter with the cigarettes, which is a totally awesome accidental bonus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfTiB257oEE/UXgFTaXY2tI/AAAAAAAAIbE/zCDNTCI8_Zk/s1600/100_9110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfTiB257oEE/UXgFTaXY2tI/AAAAAAAAIbE/zCDNTCI8_Zk/s320/100_9110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>What's that zipper in the center back of the bag for? &nbsp;That's kind of odd, right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDYN9lNC3H0/UXgFUHCcFkI/AAAAAAAAIbU/ecTMpr5eMtg/s1600/100_9111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDYN9lNC3H0/UXgFUHCcFkI/AAAAAAAAIbU/ecTMpr5eMtg/s320/100_9111.JPG" width="241" /></a></div><div>Nothing less than a pull-out and zip-off towel, complete with a little rose embroidered on the towel. &nbsp;It fits into the large back pocket (which&nbsp;actually&nbsp;has one final zippered pocket inside, pencil-sized - for makeup, perhaps?) and can be zipped off to be washed or used elsewhere if need be. &nbsp;This was at the suggestion of my boyfriend, who regrets that he can't just wash his bag's towel and must wash the whole thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so excited to give this bag away to its owner. &nbsp;I'm pretty positive she's going to love it. &nbsp;She chose the lining/contrast fabric, which is actually a laminated cotton so it's waterproof and somewhat more stain-resistant as well. &nbsp;It was really exciting to do a commission for someone rather than just doing sewing for myself or my boyfriend. &nbsp;I'm looking to start my own Etsy shop, and this was one of the first steps out into that world.</div>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-85351027432538085152013-03-05T06:59:00.003-08:002013-03-05T06:59:32.956-08:00Recent adventures in sewing, and life.So. &nbsp;I'm really quite bad at this updating business. &nbsp;It's been a hectic year. &nbsp;Or two. &nbsp;Or more.<br /><br />I just moved to Philadelphia in December. &nbsp;It's an exciting city and it's full of art. &nbsp;It's also super easy to move around in, which some cities I've visited aren't so much. I'm in the thought-to-be-dangerous-but-where-I-am-totally-isn't South Philly, which is the only part of Philly I'd want to live in. &nbsp;I think. &nbsp;(It's also really nice because walking home from the grocery store, I get these great views of Center City with all its fun tall buildings.) &nbsp;Philly is also home to a burner community that I love, and it's always nice to have wonderful and crafty people around.<br /><br />Most of my recent crafting has been for burns and burner parties. &nbsp;So, lots of wacky and themed stuff and silly things to wear out in a land of people wearing all kinds of lovely and silly things. &nbsp;I'll try to put a post up every couple of days of things that I've made in the last little while, so I can get back on the blogging and crafting wagon.<br /><br />I've been doing a decent amount of sewing, knitting, and dying in the past year. &nbsp;And, in our new row house (that's right, we got a whole 2 floors and a basement, what what) I have a craft room that I share with our housemates. &nbsp;It's actually the front room of the house, with a bathroom built into the wall. &nbsp;(Which is, obviously, immensely awkward as well as terrible feng shui, but great for doing crafting - who doesn't love a good dye bath? Or felting? &nbsp;Or... sink?) &nbsp;So, hopefully with this special dedicated space, crafting will happen more often than it has before.<br /><br />I've also managed to acquire a 1940s Singer (found by a friend at a tag sale, presumably) which runs pretty well. &nbsp;It's a little&nbsp;temperamental&nbsp;about turning on, but runs well once it's on. &nbsp;It's only a straight stitch and I haven't tried sewing with it yet, but perhaps soon. It appears to be a 1949 Singer 201, which is apparently one of the best models. My Husqvarna is still going strong (a brand I'd recommend to anyone, I love my machine so much!) and my other vintage machine (the one documented <a href="http://theyeartwentyfifty.blogspot.com/2010/06/newold-friend.html">here</a>) is still living in the storage of my parent's house.<br /><br />So today will be a crafting day. &nbsp;I'm going to work on some bags I've been comissioned to make (based on the success of the bag I made for my boyfriend) as well as design an outfit for a "Dungeons and Unicorns" party.Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-27960105052866812452011-08-01T17:10:00.000-07:002011-08-01T18:22:41.039-07:00I'm really awful at this blogging thing, aren't I?<div style="text-align: left;">Hello there, friends and followers!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sorry I have been a bad blogger and haven't updated in forever. I just haven't been sewing! I have been knitting, and I'm so close to finishing my first real-real sweater (I've made a bolero, but it didn't take nearly as much time and effort. I don't know how anyone could consider a fingering-weight sweater a "flash!") I will definitely post pictures up once it's blocked and being assembled. It's an exciting thing, to have made my own pull over, even if it will be something more like a light shell and less like a "real" heavy sweater.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm trying to work on getting back to being creative in my free time - sewing, crafting, all that jazz. I've been attending a weekly knitting group for the past few months (maybe even like 6 months to a year? I'm so bad at keeping track of time!) which has helped me develop skills and become more confident knitting in general. I've got several sweaters on my needles now, I've made a handful of those cool cotton string bags for groceries, and I'm also working on Baltic lace. I feel like most projects you should be learning a new skill or working on bettering one that you already have and I think most of my current projects apply.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sewing garments is a much more personal endeavor, so there's no real "group" for that. Which may be why I've been so lax and lazy about creating more garments. I've made one dress, another version of <a href="http://theyeartwentyfifty.blogspot.com/2009/07/vogue-2962.html">this one</a>, but in shiny and glorious evening wear-ish fabric. It was for a Valentine's Ball down in Philly that was hosted by a Burning Man group. They wanted "interpretive eveningwear" so I went with "classy Lisa Frank."</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.mysewingcircle.com/images/project/21170.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 640px; text-align: center; " src="http://www.mysewingcircle.com/images/project/21170.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >That's classy, right?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyhow, that hem is 12 different kinds of messed up and I need to fix it but once again with the laziness. Also, I don't know how many more times I will wear it out in the near future, so no real incentive there anyhow.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But my fabric stash is always growing and my distaste with wearing pants to work every day is growing alongside. It's time for pretty but work friendly dresses! Stylish button downs in fun prints! Skirts, skirts, skirts! I'm going to make everyone ask where I got my clothes and I will gleefully reply "from my own two hands! (and scissors) (and machine)"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To a vintage wardrobe that replaces the bland comforts of the modern life with the style of times gone by!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then, maybe soon, we'll get our cool robot dogs and jetpacks and all that.</div>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-68523834049977966842010-11-17T08:56:00.000-08:002010-11-17T09:44:22.149-08:00I'm Fully Aware How Tardy This Post Is (Halloween 2010)So, I know that this post is over 2 weeks late, but I've been half-busy and mostly lazy. That may also have been the reason that, despite planning, I was still sewing my costume as I left for my weekend plans.<br /><br />My last post was detailing my plans for my costume, and not long after that I actually made a muslin of the pattern I found - Vogue 8508. It was the only pattern I found that had a stand-up collar of the size that Altaira's was. (There were lots of costumes with close-to-the-neck stand-up collars, but only one that reached nearly to my shoulders.) I had also bought the fabric by that same time - a gold block trim to mimic the heavily studded areas and a gold satin flecked with glitter for the main fabric. It's not quite similar, but I wanted to make it work as best I could.<br /><br />The original pattern is for a wide A-line dress, not a near skin-tight dress as the original was. Though I was going to work on truly altering the pattern, I ended up just sewing the shape in - pinning and marking where to make the shape into the dress and adding a zipper (which, by the way, I used far too little of) so that it would fit like a glove, all said and done. I also meant for the dress to be a little longer than it ended up being - though it's not as lewd as I thought it might be at its current length. It was quite a simple pattern to put together - raglan sleeves attached through the collar (or a facing, should you not need a huge stand-up collar) and some simple bust darts. In its original form, it's a pretty cute 60's-inspired dress.<br /><br />Here is the final product!:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/TOQNgMQALBI/AAAAAAAAHqA/vme60PuDQl4/s1600/100_8331.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/TOQNgMQALBI/AAAAAAAAHqA/vme60PuDQl4/s320/100_8331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540568288267873298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/TOQNsmBmfcI/AAAAAAAAHqI/8eiPFG36lOU/s1600/100_8333.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/TOQNsmBmfcI/AAAAAAAAHqI/8eiPFG36lOU/s320/100_8333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540568501345222082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is actually just about how I wore it - there is actually a long-sleeved gold shirt underneath, and I had mustard gold tights and those little flats. And, of course, I had curled my hair to emulate Anne Francis'.<br /><br />I spent my Halloween weekend down in New York City with my friend Laura - going to interesting parties, carving pumpkins and having a grand old time. One of the best events was the Phantasmagorey brunch, hosted by Dances of Vice (whose Halloween event I attended last year.) It was most of a show than a party, but all of the performers were excellent. We showed up late, but did get to see the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/vaudevilleorchestra">Ghost Train Orchestra</a> and some great burlesque performers (including one on aerial silks!). We were in an awkward spot, up in a balcony, but it was an excellent show and there were so many wonderful costumes that I wish I could've gotten a better look at.<br /><br />Though no one recognized my costume, I did get some knowing "oh!"s after mentioning who I was dressed up as. It was another great Halloween, full of excitement and good friends. I can only hope that they get better as time goes on.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/TOQRDflUsMI/AAAAAAAAHqQ/0LlLj9RFsvs/s1600/100_8307.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/TOQRDflUsMI/AAAAAAAAHqQ/0LlLj9RFsvs/s320/100_8307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540572193287876802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">at the Phantasmagorey brunch</span><br /></div>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-9326182954008280442010-10-14T06:51:00.000-07:002010-10-14T07:01:34.213-07:00Halloween is quickly approaching...The decision for this year's Halloween costume was difficult for a long time - I still wanted to look fabulously vintage, but the only thing I could really think of was Judy Garland (while swilling liquor and downing placebos) - other thoughts came in and went out, but nothing really called to me.<br /><br />Then, just a couple of weeks ago, I watched The Forbidden Planet and I saw it:<br /><br /><a href="http://crackteam.org/blog/uploads/robby_anne_francis.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 378px;" src="http://crackteam.org/blog/uploads/robby_anne_francis.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Anne Francis' gold dress! I wish I could get someone to be my Robby the Robot, but I think that's asking a bit much at this stage. I'll probably end up with a slightly longer dress (that one could end up a bit.. immodest, to put it kindly), but I can't wait to construct and wear this iconic sci-fi dress. (I'm such a sci-fi nerd, which you probably can't tell by the rest of the posts to this blog, so I can't wait to tell people about how I live on a different planet where monsters from your Id may come to kill you. If you haven't seen The Forbidden Planet, you probably definitely should!)<br /><br />I'm a little slow on the uptake, so I'm going to go out and get my pattern today (just my luck, there's also a Vogue pattern sale going on this weekend, starting today!) and start cutting out a muslin to play with the construction. I'm using Vogue 8508, which was the only pattern I saw with the large, oval, stand-up collar the dress has (and I couldn't contemplate drafting), but I will have to do some major alterations to the body of the dress, as it's not a wide A-line style.<br /><br />I can't wait to break out the sewing machine again! It's been far too long!Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-74665209451967145282010-06-22T13:06:00.000-07:002010-06-22T13:36:08.723-07:00A new/old friendI'm getting to that pattern I've had half-cut-out for several months, I promise. New sewing will appear on this blog soon, I declare! (I also feel the need for some new summer skirts, so those will most definitely be featured.)<br /><br />The title of this post, however, refers to a purchase I recently made. An old sewing machine from a semi-local Goodwill which I believe dates back to at least the 1940s. It's a Free-Westinghouse ALC, and though it doesn't have a bobbin (yet!) it does have an electric foot-pedal.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BJKx9kMq2IL27JVOZbQwDccRqTtJ-lPSfd96dvTGQbA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/TCEbXOzFl0I/AAAAAAAAHoo/CeJtGlBKHhc/s400/100_8069.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><br />Look at that gorgeous golden shine! It's a pretty exciting thing to me, a simple machine that I can learn all about (I even found a free manual on the internet, so I can know how <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> to fiddle around with things!) and has the vintage aesthetic that I love. It just looks so pretty.<br /><br />Though I can't sew with it yet, as it has no bobbin, I'm quite excited with the prospect of doing so. It probably will never become my primary machine, but I think that sewing a proper vintage project on a proper vintage machine is something quite fascinating.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WYCgWQVVkInJXHIHWAvGuccRqTtJ-lPSfd96dvTGQbA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/TCEbG2BQtyI/AAAAAAAAHok/5yeVIbgohnk/s400/100_8071.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><br />On the final page of the manual is advice for every machine of every era, though is still quite amusing to me:<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Use Good Oil!<br />Use Good Needles!<br />Use Good Thread!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">(The descriptions of these things, however, just boil down to "don't be cheap.")<br /><br />PS - I just joined up at <a href="http://mysewingcircle.com">My Sewing Circle</a> - a kind of <a href="http://ravelry.com">Ravelry</a> for sewers. I'm starting to push in the vintage patterns and all my projects. I'm looking forward to it kind of shaping up and coming together (it's still pretty beta at this point) and having a site that I can manage all of my sewing on, like I do with my knitting on Ravelry. Feel free to join up if it interests you, but feel free not to if you want to wait until it's more of a finished project.<br /></div></div>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-73747709960234254432010-05-05T20:23:00.000-07:002010-05-05T20:40:42.537-07:00I know I've been absent from posting for a while...But life kind of got in the way! I've been taking classes at the local community college since January (on a really awful schedule, so downtime is weird) and that makes sewing inherently difficult, as I'm home less during the day.<br /><br />One thing I have been doing, however, is knitting! Knitting up a storm. Hats, potholders, sweaters, mittens, all kinds of exciting things - some of which I've never done before. (Never done before = almost always a plus, I love learning new skills and techniques!) It's really easy to take knitting wherever you go, I usually make things that will fit into one of my giant purses so I can keep it crafty and creating wherever. And, I usually try to knit vintage or vintage-inspired for myself, as I do with sewing.<br /><br />One project you readers might be interested in is the 1940s sweater I'm knitting - the <a href="http://www.caseyknits.net/vintage/forties.html">Flash! Cable! sweater</a>. (There's a link to the pattern for any of you knitters out there!) It's going to be a very thin but sturdy knit, as it's out of very thin yarn on very small needles. It's an exciting, if tedious, process - the smallness of the parts makes it take far longer than usual.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images4.ravelry.com/uploads/deuxditz/23771583/100_7751_medium.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 500px;" src="http://images4.ravelry.com/uploads/deuxditz/23771583/100_7751_medium.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The pattern and materials for the Flash! Cable! sweater<br />(I'm using KnitPicks' Palette (100% wool) in MaiTai heather, on 1s and 3s! Eek!)</span><br /></div><br />I'll be sure to post pictures of this when it's mode completed, possibly not until it's been assembled. I'm hoping it will be done by the fall, when the weather starts to turn chilly, so I can wear it with some vintage fashions I'll surely be sewing this summer!<br /><br />(I <span style="font-style: italic;">have</span> cut out abut half of my Hollywood Pattern, in white with red polka dots, but I haven't gotten around to finishing it! Maybe the prospect of a real shirt-dress, with buttons all down the front is what's intimidating, or the fact that I'm not sure if it will fit or not... I really hope it does! Puffy sleeves and all-white contrasting collar and cuffs? I <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">need</span> it to work!)<br /><br />(Oh, and I have been buying some vintage-inspired shoes.. including some wingtip-looking shoes I actually got from Kmart! I'm wearing them with my vintage dresses now that the weather is finally letting us know<span style="font-style: italic;"> it's spring</span>!)Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-14308011303846706042009-12-15T12:17:00.000-08:002010-01-08T17:30:14.656-08:00Le MeretI may be an avid seamstress, but I am also an avid knitter. I have been knitting for a few years now, and I've worked my way from simple scarves to more complex projects, like a small bolero sweater and a lace shrug.<br /><br />This winter, however, I asked my mother what we should get my nana for Christmas. She suggested we find a scarf, as she didn't have one. She didn't have a hat, either. After a few days of searching and not finding anything right, I said I'd be happy to make them. It's always nice to give a handmade gift and nice to receive them, too.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21389641@N07/4183305859/" title="Meret by deuxditz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4183305859_d90dab34e1.jpg" width="500" height="376" alt="Meret" /></a></center><br /><br />After sorting through patterns, I finally found one for the Meret - a beret that was once a "mystery" project (they give you directions, but no finished images, you just knit in mystery) but has long been revealed - and decided that would be the hat.<br /><br />After many hours of knitting, I had a beautiful little beret - a little small, so I thought I would block it. But first, I had to make a matching scarf. I used the pattern of the lace in the Meret on the edges and in the middle of the scarf, to add an element of coordination as well as one to break up the utter boredom that knitting a stockinette scarf can bring.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21389641@N07/4257560071/" title="Scaaarrfff by deuxditz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4257560071_fa3bb64f1c.jpg" width="223" height="500" alt="Scaaarrfff" /></a></center><br /><br />In the end, I think it really turned out beautifully. The lace was enough - still exciting, not enough to be really tedious and still really pretty. We mailed it out so she'd get it before Christmas and she was really happy and grateful for the gift. The best reception that anyone can get for a gift made by hand.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21389641@N07/4183305869/" title="Finishd hat and scarf by deuxditz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2527/4183305869_5659965a6f.jpg" alt="Finishd hat and scarf" height="500" width="376" /></a></center>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-69486824521604671802009-12-03T22:00:00.000-08:002009-12-03T22:26:12.866-08:00Simplicity 5030, or The Dino BlouseI have finished it, photographed it and - despite having computer troubles for a couple of weeks that I won't bother to get into - gotten the photos to finally present to you: The Dinosaur Blouse. Appropriate for many occasions, especially job interviews and other places one needs to be fancy. Fancy with dinosaurs.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr align="center"><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Mh4NxtZy9N3f6S751MwTzw?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SxiakCwtziI/AAAAAAAAHMc/G2gNSR627YY/s400/101_7386.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br />This blouse started as fabric my mother bought me when I was away at college. It wasn't much - a little over a yard - and so I constantly wrestled with what I would make out of it. A pencil skirt, maybe? Maybe... something else? Then, it hit me: a blouse! It would be just enough to make a blouse and it would be fun.<br /><br />So I used the pattern I've <a href="http://theyeartwentyfifty.blogspot.com/2009/06/simplicty-5030.html">used before</a>, with the Peter Pan collar, because it had a nice fit (and it may have been the only vintage shirt pattern I really had at the time), and whipped it together relatively quickly. (I only noticed the pattern was upside down after cutting the first piece.. but you can't really tell because half of the patterning is sideways anyhow. Oh, well!) Unfortunately, I didn't have any buttons. And I needed buttons.. dinosaur buttons.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7yrp9Opf2TUZwdmoPxeBqA?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SxiajJZjiUI/AAAAAAAAHMY/QgI7w-wExcA/s400/101_7384.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br />I was sure they had them, that they existed, but it probably took me a month or so of intermittent trips until I finally found some La Mode stegosaurus buttons. Not quite what I'd remembered, but the only dinosaur buttons I'd found or probably would find.<br /><br />I anxiously stitched them on and made the buttonholes (which I think I've gotten much better at - maybe I can make a button-all-the-way-down dress now!) and put it on. At first I was going to match the dinosaurs so that the pattern would run evenly, but the fronts aren't quite straight, so they are what they are.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/55f-HH564bVQn_5MRkftpg?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/Sxialc5l20I/AAAAAAAAHMg/7OKygeydmd4/s400/101_7387.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Check out those stego-buttons!<br />From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><br />I love it and I'm so glad I found something wearable to make out of this. The sleeves need to be shortened, but I guess this is a trend I'll have to deal with when making vintage patterns. The shirt makes me feel hip and nerdy and vintage and it's perfect. Ah, it feels good to have a dino blouse!Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-50173494018111811102009-10-31T11:05:00.000-07:002009-11-18T20:22:36.543-08:00Vogue 2609, or How To HalloweenWhat is the best fabric to make a muslin out of? Just plan muslin? Some old fabric laying around? Or could it be $2-a-yard purple satin?<br /><br />I went with the last option for this year's Halloween cosutme: Vogue 2609. A 1934 design, I wanted to look my best for the party. Now, I didn't plan this costume out well in advance. Oh, no. I barely knew what I was doing a week before and had no idea what I would be that night. When I found out it was an Edward Gorey-themed party (hosted by the lovely <a href="http://www.dancesofvice.com/">Dances of Vice</a>), this pattern immediately jumped out from my memory. Maybe not so turn-of-the-century as Gorey, but certainly in a fabulous and macabre feeling, if made in the proper way.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr align="center"><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9-xCdtgeLq_PhV4afzec8w?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SwS3SdZudpI/AAAAAAAAHDk/vNQ-DXSN5fo/s400/101_7372.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style=";font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:85%;">Awkwardly brushing out the edges of the<br />caplet featured in this pattern</span><br /></span><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><br />I've never sewn this pattern before, but I was confident in my sewing skills, so I cut out all of the pieces (including two of the godet pieces the same way - so in the final product you may or may not notice that one of the back pieces is ... not as shiny as the rest of the dress, because it's sewn in backwards) and set to work on sewing it all together.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr align="center"><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7rMQ-RAxZiecH1LncI_Zxg?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SwS3Q2JsKpI/AAAAAAAAHDg/vlit1u-3-0c/s400/101_7370.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style=";font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:85%;">The open-back design!<br />(That tie at the bottom is supposed to be<br />tacked down - pshaw, it's fine!)</span><br /></span><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><br />What I noticed, looking at the pattern back (which I did not have the convenience of doing while I was at the fabric store, the pattern being out of print) was that it didn't have a zipper. I had bought one anyway because I figured it needed to be closed somehow. Well, this being 1934, they didn't exactly have zippers. They had snaps. And I wasn't going to put in a whole long set of snaps, because I like simple solutions. So, I ignored that part of the directions and did it my way, putting in my zipper. I felt happy to have bested the patterns of the past with the technology of the future.<br /><br />The next part that unsettled me, in reading the directions, was the fact that the godet (the skirt part at the very bottom) was supposed to be appliqued on. Again, I was not doing this and decided to do it my own way, which I saw as the correct way. I just sewed the godet to the dress, as one would do - right sides together, make sure to get it all pinned down, sew together, turn right side out. (I was kind of nervous that the applique-style attatchment might not work as well, for some reason, and so I just felt more comfortable putting the skirt in the way I did.)<br /><br />The last surprise of this dress was the contrast fabric. When I was getting it cut, they told me the price, which was far more than the dress fabric. I thought it was right-side out on the bolt, because it was satiny, and just said "Whatever" and went with it. Well, after I cut the pieces for the dress and went to get them ready to attatch, the two halves of the fabric didn't want to come apart. I took a pin and separated some of the remnants from my cuttings and learned - a bit to my horror - that this was no satin at all. This was some kind of terrible, weird Latex-coated fabric. There was no turning back, though, as this was probably a day or two before and I didn't want to get anything else. I would deal with it and triumph over it, as I had with the rest of this dress.<br /><br />But I think, in the end, it turned out quite spectacularly in the end. I was happy to tell people that I'd made my dress, and though I personally don't have any photos of myself at the event, I did find one from someone else where I'm in the background:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://newyork.metromix.com/content_image/full/1576952/560/370"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 414px; height: 275px;" src="http://newyork.metromix.com/content_image/full/1576952/560/370" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by Gabi Porter for MetroMix New York<br />(more photos <a href="http://newyork.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/essay_photo_gallery/dances-of-vice-nyc/1576929/photo/1577119">here</a>)</span><br /></div><br />Yep, right there. On the right, with my lovely open back and my friend who came with me to the most magnificent Halloween party I'll probably ever attend. I hope to go more of their events sometime, just to see all the people who get so done-up! (You should search for more images and just look at all the gorgeous things people wore. Really. I was amazed.)Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-9682189439077870772009-10-27T21:47:00.000-07:002009-10-27T22:02:35.098-07:00Advance 2709Sorry I haven't been sewing! There's been lots of work going on at home, hence why I have only just finished hemming and photographing my newest creation, Advance 2709.<br /><br />I love this pattern! Its set-in, diagonal pockets. Its six-gored skirt. The fact that it has a provision for just a shirt-waist dress as well as the full shirt dress. (I only had four buttons, so I went for the shirt-waist. Also, I hate making button holes but love shirt-waists, so... that's also a reason.)<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mNRE2Lp_KoQ8k1BeW69ffg?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SufMxkgBCFI/AAAAAAAAHBk/vE1pUuQIocI/s400/101_7307.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The back of this dress has a nice yoke and gather detail and the sleeves came out quite puffy as well, which gives the dress almost a '40's style feel to the dress that looks far more '60s on the envelope. Perhaps this is also because of my height and the length that the dress ended up being. But I think this came out splendidly. I found this fabric, with its great pattern, on sale and I think this will end up being my go-to dress next summer. The fabric is really a quite thin cotton, but the fit is wonderful - it comes in close at the waist but it isn't uncomfortable. <br /><br />Ah! I just can't get enough of it. I can see myself sewing this pattern again and again, but I'll probably take some length off if I make it in a solid.<br /><br />Here are some more photos in a sort of natural-ish light, showing front and back.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YuIblgaDDfzXy9L_fCzXDQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SufMywGw8QI/AAAAAAAAHCU/3LzU1jyvr60/s400/101_7309.jpg" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Q0pnOTpf8BCuQc-CAvKj_A?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SufM0VxN1TI/AAAAAAAAHCY/65V7-Yba-R8/s400/101_7310.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></center></div></center>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-84528996709080189302009-09-30T21:26:00.000-07:002009-09-30T21:43:10.349-07:00Caffenol processing, take twoMy last post was about home developing, and as I just finished another try at it, so is this one.<br /><br />This time the film came out much better, much more like traditional processing - a good thickness to the final film, I waited for it to dry before really fooling around with it so it didn't get as much dust and scratching on the film.<br /><br />The only problem I ran into this time was loading the film - it seemed to get caught up in the reel (which I, incidentally, broke a little bit.. one of the sides doesn't have a ball bearing in it anymore... luckily the tank came with two) as I was starting to load the film. I took it all out, reloaded it but the reel didn't seem to want to hold the whole 32 exposure roll. Maybe it's because I'd already broken the ball-bearing, who knows. I got fun little spots at the end of the roll where the film had touched the tank or something. Oh, well, I got basically all of the shots, so it's all okay by me.<br /><br />With the experience of my last developing and the help of the lovely Caffenol flickr group, I determined that my developing time was way, way too little. This time, I developed for 27 minutes instead of just 12, and the results were far better. Film that's relatively opaque and commercial-looking. For something coming out of a bathroom, from just coffee and washing soda, that's pretty amazing.<br /><br />Here are just a few of the shots I took. I took more shots of more things this roll, as I was confident I wouldn't ruin it and I wasn't in any sort of rush, as I had been with the last roll.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21389641@N07/3969987327/" title="Through the skylight by deuxditz, on Flickr"><img style="width: 372px; height: 290px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2441/3969987327_d6c7e60cbf_o.png" alt="Through the skylight" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21389641@N07/3969986907/" title="Drugmart matchbook by deuxditz, on Flickr"><img style="width: 374px; height: 486px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3433/3969986907_a1e85053d7_o.png" alt="Drugmart matchbook" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21389641@N07/3969986101/" title="Cat looking out the window by deuxditz, on Flickr"><img style="width: 375px; height: 486px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/3969986101_a3e200e83b_o.png" alt="Cat looking out the window" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21389641@N07/3969985755/" title="Cat by deuxditz, on Flickr"><img style="width: 376px; height: 478px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/3969985755_ce1db47243_o.png" alt="Cat" /></a>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-88396952061600264502009-09-14T15:26:00.000-07:002009-09-14T18:24:28.709-07:00Home made photo projectOne thing, other than sewing vintage fashion, that I love to do is photography. I took a photography class in high school that, while we used film cameras, was otherwise done by computer. Therefore, I never learned developing - something I'd always wanted to know. It was a big disappointment for me then.<br /><br />In college, I made friends with art majors who did photography and this past year one of them showed me how developing was done. (This knowledge was helpful in today's project, I must admit - seeing it done is something I often need in order to do things myself.) There was a darkroom there, full of enlargers, but I have a scanner here that does negatives, so I don't really need any of that.<br /><br />In following photography blogs, I've learned of a process of caffenol processing. It's called caffenol because one of the major components in this is coffee. Instant coffee and washing soda, really. That's all I used, though some people also add vitamin C. It worked surprisingly well, I was really excited.<br /><br />Through the weeks of gathering the instant coffee, washing soda (easy - but not super-easy - to find), fixer (the only chemical you'll need) and a developing tank, my excitement only kept building with each new thing I'd found. I'd bought 15 rolls of black and white film a while back to start this project and am excited to start really getting into it.<br /><br />I did this project in my bathroom - a good place with running water and a fan (to get rid of the gross smells of the developer), and hopefully in the next couple of days I'll be putting up an edit with some of the shots I took. Though I haven't exactly perfected it (it came out rather transparent) I am very encouraged by this small success. It's empowering and exciting to be able to not only shoot film but develop it too, and on the cheap without having to use all kinds of crazy terrible chemicals.<br /><br />Edit (9:20pm)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://8.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kpzlsbaiS61qzzreho1_500.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 418px; height: 317px;" src="http://8.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kpzlsbaiS61qzzreho1_500.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kpzlsbaiS61qzzreho6_r1_500.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 412px; height: 542px;" src="http://2.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kpzlsbaiS61qzzreho6_r1_500.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://8.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kpzlsbaiS61qzzreho3_500.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 421px; height: 554px;" src="http://8.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kpzlsbaiS61qzzreho3_500.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://21.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kpzlsbaiS61qzzreho2_500.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 547px;" src="http://21.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kpzlsbaiS61qzzreho2_500.png" alt="" border="0" /></a></div>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-38735608915541662592009-09-10T20:14:00.000-07:002009-09-10T20:35:52.112-07:00Simplicity 3085I decided to make a dress from one of the <a href="http://theyeartwentyfifty.blogspot.com/2009/06/todays-pattern-experience.html">two patterns I won</a> back in June, Simplicity 3085. I found an old plaid that I'd bought a while ago and thought that it would go really well with the general design of this dress.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TztasOj0RUGRh6ch6DRO5A?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SqnDdnkNNQI/AAAAAAAAGyM/ZWPOL-gJfac/s400/101_7153.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br />It ended up being a bit big on me, as the pattern was for a bust 35, but it's kind of like having a comfortable house dress instead of a totally fashionable day dress. It still has a really interesting look and is nice to wear around.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kz7pvRQo4LEhUEQNYMi4Eg?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SqnDfNnOZhI/AAAAAAAAGyU/DyyPs_ptp4M/s400/101_7154.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br />The only real problem I had in this dress - besides almost not having enough fabric and having to cut the collar in two pieces instead of on a fold - was the bottom part of the button detail. It's supposed to mirror the top where it just juts out slightly for the buttons, but the details were awkward and now it just kind of bunches up there. I couldn't get it to point like the top does, no matter how I tried. If I remake this, I'll try to figure out my own way of doing it instead of reading the directions exactly, as they were really quite confusing anyhow.<br /><br />I also ran out of enough fabric to make the pockets, so I made it out of some leftover orange polka dot you <a href="http://theyeartwentyfifty.blogspot.com/2009/07/butterick-4919.html">might recognize</a>. I like them, though. They make me feel kind of like I have the pockets of an old timey hobo. (I also originally put those in the waist seam backwards so that my hands would have to go backwards to sit in them. That was an easy fix.)<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DdOLHX5VPYWNWPLmUfV85g?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SqnDgtedP1I/AAAAAAAAGyc/gEG0ezO5s_g/s400/101_7155.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br />Through this project I've also become a more confident buttonhole-er and that's a very exciting possibility! I really like the fabric of this dress and I'll probably wear it out anyhow, just putting a belt around the waist to tighten it up. It was generally an enjoyable and simple dress to sew, except for that one teeny detail. There's pleating above and below the waist and I think it's generally a very pretty pattern.Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-53488165459756291762009-08-12T13:37:00.000-07:002009-08-12T13:55:58.381-07:00Butterick 5032Home from my recent vacation and I was itching to get sewing again. I had already cut the fabric for everything but the facings before I left, but we took the machine in for servicing so I couldn't start sewing.<br /><br />I was excited to see how this wiggle-style dress would turn out - I thought it might be nice to have a slimmer dress in my wardrobe and I thought that it was one of the few patterns that the "running eighths" style fabric would work with.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kRD4xj7NgFZStgdFFg_52Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SoMn3TxzoMI/AAAAAAAAGss/ws82RN7hMJo/s400/101_7039.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br />Knowing the danger of modern patterns (this is one of the modern reprints of older Butterick patterns) I checked the measurements on the tissue and, lo-and-behold, I had to cut it a size smaller. I probably could've gone down another size on the top of the pattern - it does gap a bit around the top, tending to be more on the back.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ad0QuDRFA0kCt16iu9eB1A?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SoMn4drW4CI/AAAAAAAAGsw/PP39049ToDE/s400/101_7040.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br />I only noticed it as I was sewing the top and bottom together, but I had cut the whole top on the same four patterns of the running eighths and the bottom on all eight. Therefore, the whole front matches, but the back doesn't. I still think it makes a nice effect and I matched the lines dividing the patterns almost perfectly, so the effect isn't as bad as it might've been. (Also, I need to iron it.)<br /><br />Overall, I really like the outcome of the pattern. It turned out a bit long on me (maybe I just have a taste for shorter skirts, but down to mid-calf is not very appealing on the petite figure) so the kick pleat in the back is a bit useless, but I think it's quite a flattering pattern. The front pleats on the skirt section are new to me, but I kind of like them. When holding the partially-finished top to myself, I thought the neckline was a bit high, but it's actually not too bad. I am a fan of the square neckline and I find the neckline on the back to be very flattering, probably on many people. I'd probably sew this again if I need another wiggle-style dress!Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-38140515207378631172009-07-31T13:36:00.000-07:002009-08-08T18:48:41.972-07:00Key West, or Cayo HuesoI was invited on a two week vacation to Key West with my boyfriend and his family that I just finished. It's a great place and I think two weeks was probably the perfect amount of time, as we got to see pretty much everything and didn't have to rush getting things in.<br /><br />I took the plane from New York to Miami to Key West, with a short layover. On the way down to Key West, I was sitting next to the man who would open Hemmingway Days - a playwright from Canada who was decked out in full Hemmingway garb, including a pith hat he had in one of his carry ons. He told me that this was the best way to see the Keys - to flyover and watch the shallow waters change color. And it was really beautiful - I was glad to have a window seat.<br /><br />Joe drove me back to the house that his brother, John, had rented. It was a great little house in the old town with plenty of bikes for everyone staying there. There were stained glass windows and it was brightly colored. It was fabulous and John gave Joe and I the master bedroom because it was just the three of us staying there both weeks - their oldest brother, Rich, and his girfriend, as well as their parents, were only staying for the first week and their friend Ryan was only staying for the second - so he thought it would be fair to give the two of us the giant bed and adjoined bathroom. Also, so that Joe could clean his gaping moped wound that he received in Europe in peace. There was also a pool and hot tub behind the house which were really enjoyable to have, especially on hot days and cool nights.<br /><br />Throughout the two weeks we were there, we went to the Hemmingway House (mostly to pet the cats - we didn't take the tour, I'm personally not a big fan of Hemmingway but I do love cats), did a Duval crawl (the major tourist/bar street in the old town side of Key West - full of all kinds of bars, including a clothing-optional one, and all kinds of dumb stores selling the same T-shirts), biked all over the Old Town, the Key West Butterfly Conservatory (you can buy some pretty amazing butterfly "sculptures" - actual butterflies arranged in plexiglass cases to hang on your walls), went to beaches, kayaked, took two different sunset cruises, chartered a boat (which I got seasick on... unfortunately), went and watched all of the different street performers at Mallory Square (including the Cat Man.. he's crazy), going to a drag show (always a great thing to do, I promise) and all kinds of other things. Oh, and we saw the Today show being filmed. We left after like half an hour because 6 or 7 am is way too early and I wanted to sleep.<br /><br />One of my favortite things in Key West were all the great restaurants. I think probably my favorite was a little "mostly vegetarian" restaurant we went to three times. It was always really good and really filling - and I'm not even a vegetarian! Cooking some of our own meals turned out really well, too.<br /><br />It was nice to go someplace different, relax, see people that I haven't been able to for a while, and just have fun in such a crazy and unique place as Key West. It was good to bike everywhere, too, because here in suburbia it's cars everywhere. Having bike lanes is also nice, when you can get them.<br /><br />The trip back was a bit stressful as Joe and John left before I did and I had to take the keys back and also make sure I got back in time for my taxi. (I was supposed to leave the day before, but my flight was cancelled for some kind of mechanical problem and for some reason I got booted to the next day. They told me I could rent a car to Miami but I wasn't about to drive 3 or 4 hours. It gave me another day with Joe, though!) The flight was fine and I got more of my amazing book (<span style="font-style: italic;">Wizard of the Crow</span> by Ngugi wa Thiong'o [Kenyan]) read.<br /><br />Now I'm home and ready to get back into the swing of things and hopefully get sewing again! (And maybe knitting, too!)<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr align="center"><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MmTPeRYT_KOnxkqJnN4UFg?feat=embedwebsite"><img style="width: 356px; height: 268px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/Sn4fcfh7gVI/AAAAAAAAGkI/4nBGe3grn2E/s400/IMG_1420.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;">Me on the weird foldable bike I rode around Key West<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">more photos of <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/CayoHueso?feat=embedwebsite">Cayo Hueso</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></center>Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-57447141302172665722009-07-07T15:11:00.000-07:002009-07-07T20:45:53.710-07:00Vogue 2962Another of my older dresses, Vogue 2962, is one of my favorites. A challenge that definitely paid off.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n-AJyCgbLMIjyLT8c9VXMw?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img style="width: 194px; height: 315px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SlKqRmAyyDI/AAAAAAAAE1E/6cqkfw_g7HQ/s400/101_6649.jpg" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8Wj0XiIFgKg2AT9igOntoA?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img style="width: 176px; height: 315px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SlKqE6CoFJI/AAAAAAAAE08/tj-NH-RdW30/s400/101_6646.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></center><br />I originally saw the skirt fabric at Jo-Ann's and fell in love. I remembered this pattern, having just recently bought it, and decided it would make a great skirt. I did eventually have to go back for more (this pattern doesn't think you'll be using a border print - which this is) for the giant 5+ yards in the skirt. The top is a heavier cotton than the skirt.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/feSDzZhB1xTRY0moDkMEAA?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SlKqLiK_K-I/AAAAAAAAEzo/OULZytFcU5Q/s400/101_6648.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><br />Not shown here, but the top button is actually a small rose, to correspond to those in the skirt. These buttons and loops were the worst part of the dress - I kept sewing the loops in the wrong place or some of them were stitched down really awkwardly or too tight and I had to redo them probably 4 or 5 times. (Sometimes I can be really bad at spacial things, like where closures go and the logistics of them.) I knew that these were the buttons I wanted - shank buttons that were glossy and shiny and white.<br /><br />The only alteration I made - besides the length (which, with Vogue, must be for models as I always seem to take like 9" for my being 5'1") was tightening of the bodice panel. It fits more like the pattern image now and feels better all around.<br /><br />I may end up making this again, but probably not for a long while, and not until a fabric calls out to me again like this one did.<br /><br />The only qualm I have about it is that it's pretty hard to wear a bra with as the back of the bodice is a bit low and shows the whole back of a bra. It's a lined bodice, but still, sometimes it can be a bit awkward. But the adjusted fit around the middle, the huge skirt and the halter top are so great and Seven-Year-Itch-y! I just love it. (I didn't wear it on the Fourth of July, but I <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> like to refer to it as my America dress as it's red, white and blue.)Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-70757802898144094132009-07-06T19:29:00.000-07:002009-07-06T19:45:47.720-07:00Butterick 4513Another of Butterick's retro reprints, and this time from 1957, it's Butterick 4513! This was one of my first sewing projects after getting back into sewing, probably actually the second one after Vogue 2267.<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/O_L9DOhxCyxf7RGtFflSAQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SlKp3XJ31UI/AAAAAAAAE00/qmm0lMHzYhA/s400/101_6642.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><br />Despite my unfounded hatred of elastic, I like this dress. Instead of any zippers or buttons or any of those crazy doo-dads, it just has elastic in the back waist to fit it to your body. It's nice to be able to just pull it over my head, but I do prefer the more fitted look of more stern closures.<br /><br />I made the same view everyone makes - the one with only one line of bias across instead of the two where you have to perfectly line it up within your straps. Too complicated for a then-novice. I also forgot to put pockets in this one, which is a tradgedy because every dress should have at least one pocket, at least to me. I did, however, make a matching bag with the left over fabric from a pattern at Belle Epoque. (<a href="http://www.belleepoquewhimsy.com/bias-tape-tote-tute/">Here</a>'s a link, it's called the "Bias Tape Tote." Thought it would be a good way to use that spare bias tape!)<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7kTyYnrzzWxk_2s9SCtWRA?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SlKp-NmuLwI/AAAAAAAAEzU/W9ZWNwoEs6c/s400/101_6643.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br /><br />Overall, I do like the dress. It has the joyful swing of a circle skirt to it and is easy to wear. You can also adjust the straps, which I prefer not to do as I fear not tying them tightly enough and then coming undone at the most awkward of moments.<br /><br />It's made from a light green quilter's cotton with a kind of crackle pattern on it.Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7198962736886951653.post-48594266646567537372009-07-06T18:46:00.000-07:002009-07-06T19:25:15.216-07:00Butterick 4919This continues a short series of projects I've had finished for a while but am only just getting around to blogging. (I've actually only just finished fixing the hem, which was an atrocity of shortening and not properly measuring. If you're going to shorten always measure and then measure again!!)<br /><br /><center><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr align="center"><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FUHaJpkkjONcs47qiU-hWg?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tyS3rlHgI20/SlKpwra3oaI/AAAAAAAAE0s/MredvwLRpKc/s400/101_6639.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/awoade/TheYear2050?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3c-9HM7rn1pQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite">The Year 2050</a></td></tr></tbody></table></center><br />This is Butterick 4919, one of the recent "retro reprints" that Butterick was doing. Originally from 1952, it's been redone for modern sizing and such.<br /><br />I really enjoy the waist/tie detail on this dress, though it is a bit awkward to figure out which piece goes over the other in the back. It's nice to have something that you can make as fitted or loose as you want and you can always change it if you eat that giant Thanksgiving meal or something.<br /><br />I really like the fabric, but I'm a sucker for over-the-top things and the color orange. The fabric just called out to me from the shelf and I knew I had to make something grand with it, so I remembered this pattern and the rest was history!<br /><br />The only real problem I recall with it was my attempt at shortening which left certain parts very long and others very short. Now it's a little bit below the knee and I think it's a good length for this style of dress. The only other thing I can remember is that I put the hooks and eyes on half-backward at first so they closed in a really bizarre way, but that was an easy fix. The front straps actually have little pleats in them (I don't remember if the pattern just calls for gathering or for pleats, but I did it this way) and they're a really nice detail.<br /><br />I might make it again, who knows, but I'd like to somehow alter the way the sash goes around the front so it's more sleek.Amanda L. Woadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144329944752263564noreply@blogger.com5